Parts identifying method

The front end position of the leads of a leaded part can be accurately detected even from image data having a noise signal mixed therein. A method including a step for defining, with respect to an electronic part having a plurality of leads to be packaged on a board by an electronic parts packaging plant, a two-dimensional test window having a rectangular coordinate system with the X-axis extending parallel with the direction in which the leads are juxtaposed and the Y-axis perpendicular to the X-axis; a lead emphasizing step for emphasizing the light intensity of the lead regions of image data obtained by photographing the electronic part in the test window; a data producing step for producing one-dimensional histogram data which indicates the distribution of light intensity along the Y-axis on the basis of the image data after having the light intensity of its lead regions emphasized; and a positioning step for calculating the Y-coordinate of the lead position in the test window on the basis of the histogram data thereon.